Doing business during the festive season can be tricky, regardless of which industry you are in. Many companies either close over this time or are short-staffed, resulting in less resources, slow delivery and limited supplies.
Most friends and family members are enjoying a nice holiday, posting jolly pictures on social media and sending selfies from the beach. Seeing these photos can be a motivational killer – decreasing productivity and pro-activeness, and drying up creative juices.
This year’s Christmas falls on a Thursday and then the Friday is a public holiday, while New Year’s Eve falls on the next Wednesday, the public holiday is on the Thursday, and then it’s back to the office on Friday. This can put one under immense pressure to get jobs done in less time.
It is important to set realistic objectives ahead of time. Do not fill up your entire calendar or overpromise your clients, as resources are limited and turn-around periods might be longer. Also be careful of partying all night when you have to be at your desk the next day.
Companies can do quite a lot to keep employees encouraged during this time.
Flow does it in the following ways:
We celebrate the year’s success stories
By the time December hits, we’re all exhausted from a hard year’s work. One of the greatest motivators at Flow is that we are shown just how much our efforts are appreciated. The Flow end-of-year staff party is a tradition that Flowstars eagerly look forward to. Recognising and rewarding us go a long way in keeping us happy and focused on the job.
Our managers lead by example
At Flow we are lucky to have leaders who lead by example. Even during the festive season they roll up their sleeves and lead us through the challenging times. Since we are in an industry that never sleeps, it is important for us to have energy and always be ready to serve. Having managers at the office keeps up the morale and motivates us to stay on top of our game.
We get incentives
The promise of a prize can motivate employees to put effort into their work. As Flowstars we are very grateful for the incentives we receive in December, which include a fun-filled year-end party, gifts, bonuses and awards. It is evident that one of Flow’s values is, “Our people are our most important asset.”
When you feel the gloom and doom of being at the office during the festive season, look at the bright side of things: no traffic and no crazy deadlines.
It is the perfect time to get things done with a clear mind, get your ducks in a row, do admin that you’ve been postponing for the whole year, draft strategies for clients for the following year, and have some fun with family and friends.
